Meter system.



H. GHRISMAN.

METER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1910. I 1 1 20,905. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES mvzm'on HMII.

H. GHRISMAN..

METER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 11136.29, 1910.

1,120,905, I Patented Dec. 15,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES \g INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HORACE onmsmnm'or EneEwoon PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB r PITTSIB'URG METER COMPANY, A CORPORATION on PENNSYLVANIA.

METER SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HORACE CHnIsMaN, a citizen of the United. States, and a resldent of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allethe system.

A further object is to provide a meter or a valve casing for water distributing sys tems, in which means are employed whereby access may be had to the meter or to the valve without the necessity of shutting ofi the water or in any way obstructing. its flow.

These and other objects I attain in an apparatus embodying the features herein described, and illustrated in the drawings accompanying this application and forming a part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 1s a plan view of apparatus embodying m invention; the apparatus is shown with t e t op removed and portions are shown in section for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view along the line 2-1- of Fig. 1 and illustrates the positions of the parts under normalconditions.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on anenlarged scale along the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1 and illustrates the positions of the parts when the cover of the casing is removed, and the interior of the casing is accessible.

In the drawings, I have illustrated my invention in connection with the small flow meter of a detector-meter system, but with no idea of in any way limiting its scope.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will first briefly describe the arrangement of a detector-meter system: Detector-meters are employed in connection with water mains, which are used for ordinary distributing purposes and also for fire service. During ordinary service, it is necessary to accurately measure the amount of water delivered by the system; and since the flows are small, the most accurate results are obtained by positive recording meters; that is by meters, through which the water Specification of icttersIatent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed August 29, 1910i Serial 110,579,503.

to be measured, passes. Such meters are objectionable, for obvious reasons, when located in mains I depended upon for fire service. The meter for recording the small flow is ordinarily located in a by-pass, which extends around anemergency valve located in the main and adapted to open voluntarily during large flows, or a-- positive .recording meter is so located and arranged in the main that it will intercept the small flows of water and cause-them to pass through it, and W111 swing from its normal and operatlve position so as to provide a substantially unobstructed passage when the rate of flow is increased by an abnormal demand for-water. Both arrangements are employed with ;a detector, which indicates in one way.

orot'her that the recording meter has been rendered inoperative. v

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a meter system embodyin the latter arrangement, that is, a meter WhlCh is adapted to move to an inoperative position when the flow of water through the main exceeds the normal.

The numeral 4 indicates a casing which is in effect a valve casing and which is prothrough the casing. The inlet port 5 is provided with a rentrant flange 7 which projects into a chamber 8 formed within the casing, and is'axially alined with the flange of the port 6.

A recording device or meter 9 is suspended within the chamber 8 and is so arranged that it seats on the inner edge of the flange 7, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and intercepts the water traversing the casing during small or normal flows through the main, and swings to an inoperative position and provides a substantially unobstructed passage for the water through the casing 4, when the flow of water exceedsthe normal. Any type of meter may beemployed; the meter shown, however, is of the wabble-disk type and is provided with a casing 10, which incloses the disk and is provided with inlet and outlet ports. A substantially circular disk or plate 11 is illustrated as being integrally formed with the casing 10 and is so meter to accommodate all normal flows of' water. The discharge port of the meter is not shown, but it is so located that it communicates with the chamber 8. With this arrangement, the water traversing the main, during normal flows, passes through the meter and is then discharged into the chamber 8 from which it is delivered through the port 6. v

Suspending lugs 13 are provided on the plate 11, and the meter is suspended by means of them on pins 14: and 15, which are mounted in suitable lugs provided on the casing 4. The meter with the plate 11 is, in effect, an emergency valve, since it covers the port 5, during normal flows and opens voluntarily to provide an unobstructed passage through the port during abnormal flows. A cover (not shown) is provided for the casing 4 and is adapted to be secured in place on a flange 16 provided on the easing. The cover is so constructed that it permits the meter to swing unimpeded.

One of the principal features of my in- 1 vention is the production of means whereby the cover of the casing l may be removed and the meter 9 inspected, repaired or removed, without the necessity of shutting 0E the flow of water through the main. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I provide a sleeve 17, which is normally located in the flange of the port 6 and is capable of being moved across the chamber 8 so as to form a direct means of communication between the ports 5 and 6, when the meter 9 is swung to an inoperative position. The sleeve 17 is provided with gear teeth 18, which are cut or otherwise formed on its outer surface, and which are adapted to cotiperate with a pinion 19 and-to perform the functions of. a rack in reciprocating the sleeve. The teeth 18 are preferably annular and extend around the sleeve 17. This construction is employed merely for the purpose of insuring engagement between the teeth and the pinion 19 and of obviating the necessity of employinga guide for the sleeve to prevent it from turning. Such a guide A guide or support 20 is located within the cham er 8 and is adapted to guide and support t 'e sleeve in its motion across the chamher and to hold it in place after it has bridged the chamber.

The pinion 19 is located in a recess formed within the casing 4 and is mounted on a shaft 21 which extends through a suitably packed gland and bushing 2-2 and projects beyond the casing 4. The outer end of the shaft is arranged to. receive a crank or operating handle, by means of which the pinion 19 may beturned for the purpose of moving the sleeve 17. .The supporting pin 15 of the meter 9 also :extends out of the casing 4, through a suitably packed gland and bushing, and is arranged to receive a crank or operating handle, which may be employed in raising the meter from an operative position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and'2, 0 an inoperative osition, as shown in Fig re 3. An arm 23 is mounted on the shaft 15 and its free end i' adapted to engage a lug 24 provided on the meter casing 10 and to lift'OP swing the meter to the inoperative position when the shaft 15 is turned...

When it is desired to obtain access to the meter 9, the crank 15 is turned so as to swing themeter to the inoperative position, illustrated in Figure 3, the shaft 21 is then turned so as to move the sleeve 17 across the chamber 8' and into engagement with the inner end of the rentrant flange 17 Y The to of the-casing 4 can then be removed without the necessity of shutting off the flow of water through the casing, since the water is moved to engage the flange 7. A packing- 26 is also provided onthe end of the sleeve for the urpose of insuring a tight joint between-1t and the flange 7, and a packing 28 is-located at the other end of the sleeve for preventing leakage around the sleeve and into the chamber 8. After the meter 9 has been repaired and it is desired to replace itin the operating position in the casing 4;,

the. rocedure is as follows:

T e cover of the casing 4- 1s first secured in place, the sleeve 17 is then withdrawn from the chamber 8 into the flange of the port 6 and the meter is then swung to its normal operative position through the agency of the pin 15.

The sleeve 17, or an equivalent device, may be employed in connection with the emergency'valve of detector-meter systems employing a Joy-pass around the valve; or it may .be emloyed withany valve-which is capable of eing moved to an inoperative position.

, device is moved to uncover t e port.

2. In combination with a casingprovided with an inlet and an. outlet port, and a chamber communicating with saidports, a swingingdevice located within said'chamher for covering one of said'ports, means 10- cate exterior to said chamber for moving said device to uncover the port and means movable. from the exterior of the casing for bridgin the chamber and directly connecting sai ports when said device is moved to uncover the port.

3. A device of the class described comprising in combination a main, a casing in said main having a passageway forming in efi'ect a substantial continuation of the main,

a movable member in the casing adapted to be moved into and out of said passageway, a chamber in which the movable member lies when moved into inoperative position, a detachable closure for said chamber, and means whereby said chamber may be shut off from said passageway permitting access to the chamber, said means normally occupying a position permitting the free operation ofsaidmovable member under service conditions.'

4. A device of the class described comrisin in combination a main a casin in' said main having a passageway forming in effect a substantial continuation of the main,

a movable member in the casing adapted to be moved into and out of said passageway,

a chamber in which the movable member lies when moved into inoperative position, v

a detachablecover for said chamber, a movable closure member whereby said chamber,

may be shut ofi' from said passageway, and I .means for moving said closure member from the exterior, said closure member normally occupying a position permitting the free operation of said movable member under service conditions.

, '5. In a device of the class described the combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet port and provided with a chamber, a movable device having operative relation with one of said, ports and movable to an inoperative position in said chamber, and bridgin means to connect said ports and close 0 communication between the casing and said chamber when said movable device has been moved to inoperative position, the said chamber having means permitting access to said movable device from the exterior, and the said bridging means normally occupying a position permitting the free operation of said movable device under service conditions.

6. The combination of a casing forming part of a main and having an inlet and an outlet port and a chamber out of the direct line of flow, a movablevalvular device in the casing adapted to close one of said ports when moved to operative position and to lie in said chamber when moved to an inoperative position, and a fixture for said casing mounted for movement therein and adapted to bridge the space between said ports and close off communication with said chamber, said fixture normally occupyinga position permitting the free operation of the valvu lar device under service conditions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto C. W. MGGHEE, E. W. MGOALLIS'IER. 

